Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-25
MORPHINE MYSTERY.
Sudden Death in Rock Island OF
Judge B. B. Benedict.
The COrOner's Inquest---PrOof that
Morphine Caused HIS Demise, But
Not that it Was Taken With sui
cidal Intent.

~ AsN PAN - s5ShtiNhhh WI O
became conspicuous figure in court
circles during the trial of James Bptger
for the murder of his wife, last week.
Judge Benedict had been on a visit to
Rock Island, and did not come on bust
ness mission. but merely to accompany
his wife home, she having been visiting
Mrs. Ann Gintcr, at 1929 Fifth avenue.
He took an interest in the Betger case
however, and finally was retained with
Major Beardsley in the defense. He had
been about the city Wednesday and re-
turned home late that night, and
yesterday morning Mrs. Benedict was
aroused by her husbands heavy
breathing. She attempted to arouse
him but failed, and others of the
family were called in, but the Judge
did not revive. DR.. Truesdale was called
in later, and it was his opinion that the
patient had taken some poisonous mix
ture, which spread through the system,
and while he did all he could to relieve
the sufferer was unsuccessful, and Judge
Benedict expired at the time stated
THE INQUEST.
Coroner Halves was notified last even
ing and summoned jury composed of
Messrs. NJ. Z. Sweeney foreman P. J.
Gary, Edwin Ward, B. F. Knox, St. Elmo
Murdoch and Philip Hoffman, and pro
ceeded with the inquest Mrs. Eliza
Benedict was the first witness examined
She testified that she was sixty-three
years old; live at Rapids City. D. T.. am
the wife of the deceased; her husband
hal complained for three or four DAYS OF
being unwell; he came home about l2
O'Clock Wednesday night aud said he was
sick, and soon went TO bed; early yester
day morning he got up and again said he
was sick. Witness thought he then took
dose OF quinine, but did not see him
do it. Att o'clock she was alarmed al
her husbands appearance; attempted 10
arouse him, and called her sister, Mrs.
Ginter. and still not being able to awaken
the deceased, sent for Dr. Truesdale. Hef
husband continued TO fail until about 8
in the afternoon. when he died quietly
Witness testified that her husband hac
had two similar attacks before.
The inquest was then adjourned until
this morning when DR.. Calvin Truesiale
testified that be was called TO see the de.
ceased at Q o'clock yesterday morning.
Found the patient wholly unconscious
First impression was that he might bt
suffering from apoplexy. On further ex
animation, became convinced that be
was suffering from
MORPHINE OR OPIUM POISONING.
The patient grew worse and soon became
so bad that he could not be made tc
swallow Believing that the poison hac
been taken so long that it had been Who'll.
" absorbed. the stomach pump would
prove fruitless, and antidotes were ad
ministered. hypoder metically and IN tn
| form of enemas, but without avail II
was so narcotised that 1t absolutely ar
rested respiration at intervals. Tn
blood vessels o. the face and head hat
become cougested and the complexion
dark; the pupils of the eyes wer
greatly contracted Witness had n
doubt as to poison. Mr.. Benedict hal
given witness card which she had foun
in the morning; it was a Masonic card
with the name of j. J. Reimers Oh en-
side. Upon the other side was 1
stain, made apparently by the passing c
the tongue over the paper, and stainin
it with tobacco juice or other substance
On the same side were particles of whit
powder, which seemed to have been vi
and stuck to the card This powdt
:. when examined by a microscope vi
identical in form of its crystals wit
sulphate of morphine, with which it We
compared This. the doctor said, ccr
firmed his theory that Judge Benedict hs
taken morphine, and done so wit
suicidal intent.
AN ANALYSIS,
Mr.. Frank Nader, Phi. e, testified th